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Ken - not 100% sure -but railway would have to be in low miles of track vs railroad which would have many miles. Originally posted by Brianstyco - February 21 2012 :  8:58:41 PM

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Historically, in the United States of America the term railroad, especially when used in a company name, implies a conventional rail system and railway implies a street railway (tramway), also known as a streetcar or light rail line. There are, however, quite a number of exceptions. In fact, many companies change from one term to the other when they re-incorporate, possibly to distinguish between the old and new companies (example: Seaboard Air Line Railroad). Railroad: The term railroad is used almost exclusively in the U.S. to describe conventional rail transport systems that are part of the national rail network, which until the mid-20th century were often described as steam railroads. These systems now operate diesel or electric locomotives hauling passenger or freight cars, and self-propelled passenger multiple units. The alternative form of rail road as two words primarily reflects early practice, but several roads retain this form, notably the Long Island Rail Road, the oldest railroad in the U.S. still operating under its original name. Though the use of railroad is prime in U.S. practice as described above, there are notable exceptions. Earlier railroads that were British influenced in management, engineering and/or construction had a greater tendency to use the term railway, as in Chicago and North Western Railway (C&NW), which also using the British practice of left-hand running (although that was not inspired by British operations). Railroad companies in bankruptcy sometimes retained their name in reorganization but changed railroad to railway or vice versa; e.g., Staten Island Rapid Transit Railroad changed to Staten Island Rapid Transit Railway. Some U.S. railroads are "railways" for no obvious reason, such as Vermont Railway and Kansas City Southern Railway. The BNSF Railway was apparently named in part after one of its predecessors the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The Norfolk Southern Railway is also named in part after one of its predecessors, the Southern Railway. Railway: Urban and interurban electric railways in the U.S. using single cars or short trains have more commonly used the term railway in their names than regular railroads. Examples include the Pacific Electric Railway, San Francisco Municipal Railway, Municipal Railway Company (New York), Boston Street Railway Company and Chicago Railways. Here, too, there are exceptions. The first street railway company in Brooklyn, New York City to operate an electric trolley line was the Coney Island & Brooklyn Railroad.